Electronic devices with sealing elements having embedded sensors

Abstract

An electronic device having a housing that defines an interior volume, the housing being suitable for carrying at least a processor within the internal volume, the housing comprising an edge that defines an opening that provides access to the internal volume. The electronic device can have a cover carried at the edge of the housing and within the opening and having an external surface capable of receiving an external force and a sealing element disposed between the housing and the cover, with the sealing element preventing intrusion of liquid into the internal volume. The sealing element can include a sealing material and a sensor contained within the sealing material that senses that an external force is applied to the external surface of the cover and, in response, provides a signal to the processor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a housing that defines an interior volume, the housing being suitable for carrying at least a processor within the internal volume, the housing comprising an edge that defines an opening that provides access to the internal volume;   a cover carried at the edge of the housing and having an external surface capable of receiving an external force; and   a sealing element disposed between the housing and the cover, the sealing element preventing intrusion of liquid into the internal volume, the sealing element comprising a sealing material and a sensor contained within the sealing material that senses that an external force is applied to the external surface of the cover and, in response, provides a signal to the processor.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive material arranged in a pattern having a shape. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern is cyclical. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein when the external force is applied to the cover, the sealing element is compressed causing the sealing element to change shape resulting in a commensurate change in the signal provided to the processor. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the compression of the sealing element causes the pattern to distort causing the resistance of the sensor to decrease. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the sealing material is a low durometer non-electrically conductive elastomer. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is disposed between the enclosure and cover glass such that when the external force is applied to the cover glass, the sealing element exhibits a shear force due to the movement of the cover glass with respect to the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing material is a dielectric and the sensor is comprised of two electrically conductive plates arranged opposite each other and spaced apart by at least a portion of the sealing element. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a display and wherein the processor controls content displayed at the display based on the signal provided to the processor by the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element comprises multiple sensors embedded within the sealing material and each sensor provides a signal to the processor for the force applied to the external surface of the cover. 
     
     
         11 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 an enclosure defining an internal cavity configured for carrying electronic components including at least a processor and a display, the enclosure having an edge at an opening to the internal cavity;   a cover glass disposed on the edge and over the display such that visual content is displayed through the cover glass, the cover glass being coupled to enclosure; and   a liquid impermeable barrier compressed between the cover glass and the edge such that liquid is prevented from permeating into the internal cavity of the enclosure, the liquid impermeable barrier comprising a sensor embedded within the liquid impermeable barrier that detects a force applied to an external surface of the cover glass and provide a signal to the processor.   
     
     
         12 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid impermeable barrier is formed of silicone. 
     
     
         13 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is strain gauge configured to detect compressive forces from the cover glass. 
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a strain gauge configured to detect shear forces on the liquid impermeable barrier caused by movement between the cover glass and an interface between the enclosure and the cover glass and the enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises two electrically conductive elements spaced apart by a portion of the liquid impermeable barrier and a change in capacitance between the elements indicates an applied force to the external surface of the cover glass. 
     
     
         16 . A method for detecting a touch force input received at an external surface of a protective cover coupled to an enclosure of en electronic device, where the enclosure is sealed from liquid permeation by a sealing element embedded with a force sensor arranged between the protective cover and the enclosure, the method comprising:
 receiving a force at an external surface of the protective cover;   detecting the force received by the protective cover and transmitted to the sealing element, using the embedded force sensor; and   generating a signal to provide to a processor contained within the enclosure based on the detected force.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising controlling content displayed at a display carried by the electronic device based on the signal received from the sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor comprises a sensor element arranged in a cyclical pattern shape that changes resistance when compressed and generates the signal to the processor. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the signal comprises an amount of force applied to the external surface of the protective cover. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sealing element is formed of silicone over-molded over the sensor.